Electrical assembly



June 16, 1959 w, FLANAGAN, JR I 2,891,229

' ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Filed on. 15, 1954 '2 Sheets-Sh eet 1 I \5 3. I'llo*[ a u' 1 0 4 m 3 0 w r m \INVENTOR.

9 Q r WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN JR.

WWW ATTORNEY.

June 16, 1959 w. H. FLANAGAN, JR 2,891,229

ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0ct. l5, 19 54 mwm UnitedStates Fatentf) ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY William H. Flanagan, J12, Wellesley,Mass., 'assignor, by mesne assignments, to United-Carr FastenerCorporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application October15, 1954, Serial No. 462,563

11 Claims. (Cl. 339-4 7) This invention relates generally to electricalassemblies and has particular reference to a connector for use withpanels having circuit elements on the surface thereof.

In the construction of certaintypes of electronic apparatus, portions ofthe circuit may be formed on the surface of an insulating panel byso-called printed wiring techniques, or other means, some of whichextend to an edge of the panel to receive a connector for completing anelectric circuit thereto.

Although many types of connectors have been devised for this purpose,none is entirely satisfactory in both providing good electrical contactwithout damage to the circuit elements on the panel, and in permittingassembly and disassembly of the connector and panel a plurality of timeswithout damage to the ability of the individual contacts to make goodelectrical contact with a circuit element on the panel.

The object of the invention is to provide a connector for assembly witha panel having circuit elements on the surface thereof which extend toan edge of the panel, in which individual contacts are provided in theconnector for completing a circuit to the elements on the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector having meansto receive an edge of the panel and contact means assembled therewithfor resiliently engaging the edge of the panel to complete a circuit toan element thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con-,

nector in which contact members disposed in a longitudinal 'slot toreceive a panel edge are adapted to be torsionally flexed by theinsertion of a panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector for use inan electrical assembly adapted to receive a group of spaced parallelcircuit panels, in which a group of contact members are provided havingmeans for resiliently engaging a panel edge and other means for makingelectrical contact with a conductor extending transversely through thebody. v

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, inpart appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical assembly embodying thefeatures of the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a connector body used in the assembly ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the connector body bodyillustrating the method of assembling a contact therewith;

Fig. 10 is a view in transverse section of the connector body aftercompletion of the assembly of the contact and after assembly of aconductor therewith; p

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of a portion ofthe connector of Fig.10 illustrating the action of the contacts during assembly of a panelwith the connector;

Fig. 12 is a "view in section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11; t

Fig. 13 a view in section taken on line 13-13 ofFig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a view of the assembly of Fig. 10 as seen from the rightside; and Y a Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a connector 10 which isadapted to be built into an electrical assembly 12, to receive andcomplete electric circuits between spaced parallel panels 14 of the typehaving circuit elements disposed thereon.

The connector 10 comprises generally an elongated body 16 formed ofinsulating material such as molded plastic and a series of contacts 18assembled therewith in a manner to appear hereinafter.

The body 16 is provided with longitudinal 'slots 20 and 22 on oppositesides thereof which, in the preferred embodiment, open to at least oneend of the body, and have a width slightly greater than the width of apanel 14.

To provide means for receiving contacts 18, a series of apertures 24 areprovided .in the body, which extend transversely therethroughimmediately below the slots 20 and 22 and open thereto on the upperside, forming recesses 25 and 25a, and a transverse slot associated witheach aperture 24 on the side of the body having the longitudinal slot20. Each transverse slot comprises. an upper portion 26 disposed abovethe longitudinal slot, a lower outer portion 28 disposed below thelongitudinal slot, and a lower inner portion 30 extending further intothe body from the lower outer portion. The upper portion 26 and thelower outer portion have a depth greater than the depth of thelongitudinal slot 20, and are aligned with each other and slightlyofisetlongitudinally from the associated aperture 24. The lower innerportion 30 is'a'lso slightly offset to one side of the lower outerportion and has a lesser width, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The contact membersls assembled with the body are formed of a singlepiece of resilient sheet metal, and

each comprises. a resilient arm 32 for extending through an aperture 24,contact portions 34 and 36 disposed on opposite ends of the arm 32, anda retaining leg 38 extending downwardly from the medial portion of thearm 32. The contact portions: 34 and 36 extend generally at right anglesto thearm 32 and are inclined in relation to a plane perpendicular tothe plane of the retaining leg 38. A laterally extending foot 40 isprovided at the lower.

end of the retainingleg and an aperture 42 is disposed therein for apurpose to 'appear hereinafter.

(see Fig. 9) until the contact portion enters the -longi-' tudlnal slot22, at which point it springs back to its nor- 1 malposition and locksthe contact in position (see Fig.

10). During the insertion, the retaining leg enters the lower inner slotportion. 30 and the laterally extending foot 40 is disposed against thebottom side of the body,

with the aperture 42 therein aligned with the lowe outer slot portion28. After assembly the contact portions 34 and 36 lie in the recesses 25and 25a and are inclined upwardly to extend into the longitudinal slots20 and 22. In the preferred embodiment the forward edges 44 and theouter side edges 46 of the contact portions are rounded downwardly for apurpose to appear here- Patented June 16, 19 59 A group of connectors 10may be built up into a con nector assembly 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1,in which a group of connector pairs are spaced one above the other, withthe connectors of each pair being spaced apart to "receive and retainapanel therebetween with the opposite'edges of the panel being disposedin the longitudinal slots .of the body, .andwith the correspondingconnectors of'each pair secured in spaced relation to support members47. i

. To complete electricv circuits from one layer to ,another,'conductors50 extend vertically through the assembly in predetermined positions,and are disposed in ,the

upperportion 26 and the lower outer portion 28 of-the transverse slots,and also extends through theapertnre 42 inthe foot 40 disposed againstthe bottom side of the connector body, sothat ,the conductor 50 may besoldered thereto.

"Thepanels 14 carry circuit-elements 48-which extend to'the side edgesthereof in suitable-predeterminedspaced relation so as to be alignedwith appropriate contacts of the connector when thepanel is assembledtherein. Although the connectors are primarily for use w th panels =fthe printed circuit type, panels having other means of providing 'acircuit on the surface thereof may be used provided the means forcarrying the circuit to the side edges is suitable for completing anelectric circuitto the contacts of the connector.

-A panel 14 may be assembled into the connector assembly by simplyinserting it into place between the appropriate connectors, so that theopposite edges of the panel slide into the opposing slots of theconnectors, flexing the contact portions downwardly by torsional flexingofthe resilientarm 32 (see Fig. 11). The roundededges .44 and 46 of thecontact portion -insure-that the circuit element on the panel will notbe damaged by assembly, and enable the panelto' be'readily removed forreplacement or testing. Since the flexing action is byitorsionof theresilient arm, a large amount of resiliency may be had even in an arm ofsmall size, thereby insuring that the contact portion will bearagainstthe panel with sufiicient force to provide good' electricalcontact, and the combined bearing force of the plurality ofccontacts inthe connector securely retains the panel in J assembly against vibrationand shock. Additional positive locking means may also be providedtoretain the panels in position if desired.

Sincecertain obvious modificationsmay'be made in thexdeizice withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmattercontained herein' be interpreted in an illustrative and not a limitingsense.

.. I claim:

:1. "A eonnectorfor assembly with .a panel. having circuit 1 elements-extending-to ,an edge thereof, said con.- nector comprising anelongated insulating body having a longitudinal slot in oneside toreceive the edge of-the panelpa'zseriesof transverse slots disposed inone side of thezbody so as=to be perpendicular to the panel, and aseries f contact members assembled therewith, each of said contactmembers comprising a retaining leg disposedzlin the transverse slot withmeans thereonfor receiving and making electrical contact with aconductor assembled into the transverse slot, aresilient arm extendingfrom the -retaining leg into the longitudinal slot; and a contactportion disposed therein on the end of the arm, said contact portionextending generally longitudinally on the end of the armand-"beinginclined into the longitudinal slot whereby assembly-ofthepanel edge causes torsional flexing of the" resilient arm.

-,2 A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit-elementsextending to an edge thereof,- said conme'ctor comprising an. elongatedinsulating body having a longitudinalslot. in one side to receive the.edge of the panel, .a. series. of transverse slots disposed inenesideroflthebody so as .to ,be perpendicular tolthe panel and eachcomprising an outer portion having a depth;

greater than the longitudinal slot and an inner portion extendingfurther into the body, said inner portion being narrower than said outerportion, and a series of contact members assembled with the body, eachcontact member comprising a retaining leg disposed in the inner portionof the transverse slot with means extending therefrom into alignmentwith the outer portion for receiving and making electrical contact witha transversely extending conductor, a resilient arm extending from theretaining leg into the longitudinal slot, and a contact por-v tiondisposed in the longitudinal slot on the end of the arm, saidcontact.portion extending generally longitudinally in the longitudinal .slotfrom the end ,of the arm and being inclined into the longitudinal slot,whereby insertion of a panel edge into the slot causes torsional flexingof said arm.

3. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elementsextending to an edge thereof, comprising anelongated insulating bodyhaving a longitudinal slot in eachof two opposite sides, a series ofapertures extending transversely through the body immediately below saidslots and connecting thereto, and a series of contacts assembled withthe body, each contact comprising a resilient arm portion disposed in atransverse aperture, and a contactflportion disposed on each end of thearm for making electric contact with circuit elements on a panelinserted into the slots, each contact portion being inclined upwardlyinto theadjacent longitudinal slot.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3 in which said contact has meansdisposed in a slot transverse to the longitudinal slots restraining themedial portion against flexing.

5. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elementsextending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating bodyhaving a longitudinal slot in each of two opposite sides, a series ofapertures extendingtransversely through the body connecting said slots,a transverse slot associated with each aperture on one of said sides andhaving a depth greater than the slot therein, and a series of contactsassembled withthebody, each contact comprising a resilient arm portionextending through the aperture into said longitudinal slots, a eontactportion disposed on each end of the arm for making electric contact withcircuit elements on an in contacts are provided witha foot at the bottomof the leg' having an aperture therein to receive a conductor assembledinto the transverse slot.

7. A connector for assembly with a panel having circuit elementsextending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating bodyhaving a longitudinal slot in each of twoopposite sides and a series ofvertical slots in one of said sides of the body opening to thelongitudinal slot in said'side, a series of apertures extending throughthe body and connecting the slots, and a series of contact -membersassembled therewith, said contact members each comprising a verticalportion disposed in one of said vertical slots, a transverse portionextending through one'of said apertures and a contact portion disposedon each end ofsaid transverse portion, said contact portions extendinggenerally longitudinally of the longitudinal slot and being inclined ,inrelation to the axis thereof to receive a nd frictionally engage theedge of an inserted panel to make electrical contact with circuitelements therein.

8. A connector for assembly with a panel havingcircuit elementsextending to an edge thereof, comprising an elongated insulating bodyhaving a longitudinal slot in two opposite sides, a series of aperturesextending transversely through the body and connecting to the slots,

.. said apertures. be s p ce below t lo a cl imin body, each contactcomprising a medial portion disposed in the aperture and a contactportion on each end of the medial portion disposed in the transverseslots associated with the aperture, each contact portion extendinggenerally longitudinally of the body and being inclined upwardly intothe slot to make electric contact with a circuit element on a panelassembled into the slot and to retain the contact in assembly in theaperture.

9. A connector as set forth in claim 8 in which said body has a verticalconductor receiving slot and a vertical contact leg receiving slotassociated with each aperture, and said contact has a leg extendingdownwardly from the medial portion thereof, said leg being disposed inthe contact leg receiving slot and having a portion in the end thereofdisposed against the bottom of the body which extends under theconductor receiving slot, said foot portion having a conductor receivingaperture disposed therein in alignment with said conductor receivingslot.

10. A connector body for receiving contact members for assembly with apanel having circuit elements on the surface thereof, said connectorbody comprising an elongated piece of insulating material having alongitudinal slot in each of two opposite sides, a series of transverseapertures extending through the body and opening to the longitudinalslots, and a transverse slot associated with each transverse aperture,each transverse slot being disposed on a side having a longitudinalaperture and having an outer portion with a depth greater than saidlongitudinal slot and a width suitable to receive a conductor forextending to similarly positioned connectors spaced therefrom, and aninner narrower portion for receiving a portion of a contact member, saidouter and inner portions opening to the associated transverse aperture.

11. An electrical assembly comprising a group of connector pairs spacedto receive a group of circuit panels spaced one above the other, theconnectors of each pair being disposed a predetermined distance apartand having a body portion with opposing longitudinal slots to re ceiveopposite edges of a panel assembled therebetween, said connectors alsohaving a series of transverse slots disposed therein extending generallyperpendicular to the plane of the panels, conductor members disposed inappropriate transverse slots and extending to a transverse slot in thecorresponding connector of an adjacent pair, and a series of contactsassembled with the connector, said contacts each having a resilientportion extending into a longitudinal slot in position to be flexed byan inserted panel and to make contact with a circuit element thereon,and a portion associated with a transverse slot connected to theconductor disposed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,768,297 Schellenger June 24, 1930 2,071,713 Terrill Feb. 23, 19372,189,874 Ziganke 2 Feb. 13, 1940 2,326,327 Brewer Aug. 10, 19432,641,747 Johanson June 9, 1953 2,664,552 Ericcson et al. Dec. 29, 19532,693,584 Pifer Nov. 2, 1954 2,701,346 Powell Feb. 1, 1955 2,730,683Ayres et al. Ian. 10, 1956 2,765,450 Richardson Oct. 2, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 648,076 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1950

